You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2026-assam-elections-congress-destroyed-minorities-badruddin-ajmal-eyes-assam-comeback-11256398” on this server.
Reference #18.17fdd417.1774287239.404b77e1
https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.17fdd417.1774287239.404b77e1
NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming he is “compromised” and cannot participate in a parliamentary debate, while criticising his recent speech on the West Asia conflict.Speaking at the Adivasi Adhikar Samvidhan Sammelan in Vadodara, Rahul Gandhialleged that the Prime Minister avoided naming the United States in his Lok Sabha address and said he was “100% under the control” of US President Donald Trump.“I’ve heard that the Prime Minister gave a 25-minute speech. But I guarantee he cannot participate in a debate in Parliament because he is compromised. Narendra Modi spoke for 25 minutes but did not say a single word against America. Narendra Modi is 100% under the control of Trump,” the Prime Minister.Rahul Gandhi also criticised the government’s trade approach, claiming it would hurt Indian farmers.“Narendra Modi has opened India’s agricultural sector to America through a trade deal. Here, we have small farms, while in America, there are large farms spanning thousands of acres. Here, people work by hand, and there, work is done with large machines. If American goods start coming to India, our farmers will be ruined,” said Rahul Gandhi.He further accused the BJP and RSS of undermining tribal rights, alleging that the term “Vanvasi” was being used to dilute the identity of Adivasis.“Adivasi means the original inhabitants of India — the rightful owners of this land, water, and forests (‘jal-jangal-jameen’). But RSS-BJP has introduced a new term — ‘Vanvasi,’ which implies that you only live in forests, not that you are the rightful owners of these resources. Narendra Modi and BJP leaders fold their hands before the statue of Birsa Munda, but they attack the very ideas for which Birsa Munda fought and was martyred. When BJP takes away the land, water, and forests from Adivasis, it is not just an attack on Birsa Munda, but also on the Constitution,” he said.The remarks come after Prime Minister Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on the ongoing West Asia conflict, describing the situation as “worrisome” and outlining its economic, security and humanitarian implications for India.Congress leaders also criticised the Prime Minister’s speech. Party leader Pawan Khera questioned the intent behind the address, saying, “… Perhaps this speech was given keeping the upcoming elections in mind… The first question is, why did you go to Israel? We were hoping to get an answer to that. There was hope that the Prime Minister would make a promise that even after the elections are over, the prices of LNG, LPG, petrol, or diesel would not increase...”Congress MP Jairam Ramesh also hit out at the Prime Minister, accusing him of failing to condemn US and Israeli strikes on Iran and calling his speech a “master class in self-boasts and partisan dialogue-baazi.”“The Prime Minister’s uncharacteristically short speech in the Lok Sabha today was, as usual, a master class in self-boasts, cowardice, and partisan dialogue-baazi (dramatic dialogue). Not a single word was uttered in condemnation of the continued US-Israeli air assaults on Iran. Iran’s attack on the Gulf countries and the Strait of Hormuz is, to be sure, completely unacceptable – but so is the relentless bombing of Iran with the objective of regime change and state collapse,” Ramesh wrote on X.Responding to Modi’s reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ramesh added, “Finally, the PM’s invocation of the COVID-19 pandemic is concerning. His Government’s response was uniquely catastrophic. The nation cannot forget the deeply depressing scenes which became all too normal then – lakhs of migrants walking barefoot to their homes, thousands dying from oxygen shortages, and millions left unemployed. We can only hope there is more preparedness this time.“In his address, the Prime Minister said the conflict has posed “unprecedented challenges” for India, particularly due to its dependence on the region for crude oil and gas and its importance for global trade routes.“This war has also posed unprecedented challenges for India. These challenges are economic, related to national security, and humanitarian as well. India has extensive trade relations with the warring and war-affected countries. The region where this war is taking place is also an important route for our trade with other countries of the world. In particular, a large part of our needs for crude oil and gas is met by this very region,” he said.He added that the government has prioritised domestic LPG consumers amid supply uncertainties and is working to ensure uninterrupted availability of petrol and diesel, noting that India maintains strategic petroleum reserves of over 5.3 million metric tons.The Prime Minister’s statement comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia following the February 28 killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes, which triggered retaliatory attacks by Iran and disruptions in key maritime routes including the Strait of Hormuz.
Mumbai: A 40-year-old woman has registered a police complaint against a beggar for attempting to kidnap her nine-year-old daughter. The alert child had stopped a stranger and requested him to call her mother immediately. Police have registered an FIR.The incident occurred on March 21. The complainant works as a maid. Around 7 pm, she sent her daughter to Bhagat Singh Nagar slum in Goregaon (W) with some kheer to be delivered to her friend’s place. She then got busy. Shortly, she received a call from her daughter stating that she couldn’t find her friend’s house and was lost. The complainant then asked her daughter to wait and called up her friend, asking her to go to her daughter. But thereafter, the complainant got another phone call asking her to come down immediately as her daughter was crying. When the complainant reached the location, she found a large number of people gathered. Her daughter told her that a beggar, Chanda, who had come to their house earlier the same day had been following her and had grabbed her hand, asking her to accompany her for some food. The nine-year-old then stopped the stranger and requested him to call her mother immediately. The public then dialled police emergency number ‘100’ and handed over Chanda for inquiry.
MUMBAI: A 31-year-old woman, studying for UPSC, has lodged a police complaint against her ex-husband for accessing her Instagram account unauthorisedly and uploading their private images on it. Dindoshi Police have registered an FIR against the 31-year-old accused who is an Indian Railways employee.According to the FIR, the couple got married in 2020. However, their relations soured and in 2024, the complainant separated from her husband. She moved back to her parents’ place. According to the FIR, the complainant was using a phone number gifted by her estranged husband and registered in her brother-in-law’s name. The accused allegedly ported it to another telecom company and started to use it. The complainant has claimed that he got unauthorised access to her Instagram and started chatting with her contacts, pretending to be her. In June 2025, the complainant filed for divorce. In March 2026, the accused allegedly created a video of her nude images and sent it to her over WhatsApp. He also uploaded their private images on her Instagram account and defamed her in conversations with her friends. Police are probing further.
‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, also known as ‘Dhurandhar 2’, has been receiving massive love from audiences, and its box office numbers are proof. Amid the extraordinary buzz around the film, an image is circulating online, leaving many wondering if they missed a post-credit scene — and whether another installment is actually on the way. Here’s what we know.
An alleged end-credit slate featuring ‘Dhurandhar: The Final Chapter’, with a release date of June 14, 2026, is going viral on the internet. The image claims that the third part of the franchise is already planned and will hit theatres in June this year, potentially clashing with ‘Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups’, starring Yash.
However, there has been no official announcement or confirmation from the makers regarding ‘Dhurandhar 3’. The viral end-credit image appears to be AI-generated and is likely being circulated as a fake announcement to capitalise on the film’s ongoing buzz.
Reportedly, the Ranveer Singh starrer is a single story split into two parts, with the first installment released on December 5, 2025, and the second arriving on March 19, 2026.The image gained traction after director Aditya Dhar had urged audiences not to leave their seats until the end credits finished rolling, which further fuelled speculation about a potential third part.
In reality, the end credits of ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ feature backstory sequences, including how Ranveer Singh’s Jaskirat and Rizwan trained together before becoming spies for India. Another moment shows LTF chief Omar Shahid reacting to Hamza’s release by General Shamshad Hassan, played by Raj Zutshi.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film stars Ranveer Singh alongside Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun. The film also features Danish Pandor, Mustafa Ahmed, Gaurav Gera, Manav Gohil, and Bimal Oberoi, among others.The film was released in theatres on March 19, 2026.
Iran on Monday denied holding any negotiations with the United States, dismissing claims by President Donald Trump as “fake news” stating it was aimed at manipulating “oil markets.““No negotiations have been held with the US, and fake news is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped,” Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X.“Iranian people demand complete and remorseful punishment of the aggressors. All Irainan officials stand firmly behind their supreme leader and people until this goal is achieved,” he added.The denial came after Trump said Washington and Tehran had held “very good and productive conversations” over the past two days towards “a complete and total resolution” of hostilities in the Middle East.Sharing a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had “instructed the Department of War to postpone all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period,” adding that the pause would depend on the “success” of ongoing “meetings and discussions.”“Over the last two days, Washington and Tehran have had very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,” Trump said.Speaking later near Air Force One, Trump described the talks as “very strong” and said his adviser Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were involved. “We will see where they lead,” he said. “We have major point of agreement; I would say almost all points of agreement,” he added.Referring to the temporary pause, the US president said, “We’re doing a five day period, and we’ll see how that goes. If it goes well, we’re going to end up with settling this.” He warned, “Otherwise, we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out.” He also suggested Iran may be willing to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions in exchange for peace.“They called, I didn’t call. They called. They want to make a deal,” Trump said, adding that “partners in the Middle East” were also part of the discussions.Trump further claimed the US was in contact with a “most respected” figure in Iran’s leadership, though not the supreme leader. “I can’t name the person … because I don’t want him to be killed,” he said.Earlier, Iranian state media also rejected these assertions, with the foreign ministry describing Trump’s decision to pause strikes as “part of efforts to lower energy prices and buy time for the implementation of his military plans.”Iranian news agencies Fars and Tasnim portrayed the US move as a climbdown under pressure. “Since the start of the war, messages have been sent to Tehran by some mediators, but Iran’s clear response has been that it will continue its defense until the required level of deterrence is achieved,” Tasnim reported.“No negotiations have taken place and none are underway. … With this kind of psychological warfare, neither the Strait of Hormuz will return to prewar conditions nor will calm return to energy markets,” it added.
A Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) Hercules C-130 military aircraft carrying about 110 soldiers crashed in southern Colombia on Monday, according to the country’s defence ministry, with local media reporting that the plane went down shortly after take-off.Video footage circulating online showed the aircraft engulfed in flames.The country’s defence minister Pedro Sanchez said the accident occurred as the aircraft was taking off from Puerto Leguizamo in Colombia’s southern Amazon region near the border with Peru. The plane was transporting troops from the armed forces at the time.“The exact number of victims and the causes of the crash have not yet been determined,” he said, as cited by Reuters. BluRadio, citing authorities, reported that about 110 soldiers were on board the aircraft and that the crash occurred just 3 km (2 miles) from an urban centre.In a separate incident at the end of February, another Hercules C-130 aircraft belonging to the Bolivian Air Force crashed in the densely populated city of El Alto, narrowly missing a residential block. More than 20 people were killed and around 30 others were injured, while banknotes from the plane’s cargo were scattered across the city.
The build-up to the IPL 2026 season has been met with a familiar sense of frustration as several high-profile overseas stars signal delayed arrivals. While the league remains the undisputed crown jewel of T20 cricket, the recurring trend of international players joining mid-tournament or withdrawing entirely, has sparked a fiery response from Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar. Known for his candid insights, Gavaskar has urged franchises to stop being ‘taken for granted’ and prioritize squad integrity over individual star power.
The legendary opener’s comments come at a critical juncture. Despite the IPL’s massive financial pull, the logistical nightmare of late-season withdrawals and staggered arrivals continues to hamper team planning. For Gavaskar, the issue isn’t just about scheduling; it’s about a perceived lack of professional respect for the franchises that invest millions into these athletes.
In a scathing column for Sportstar, Gavaskar highlighted a cultural disconnect, suggesting that the generous nature of Indian franchises is often misinterpreted. He noted that owners frequently go above and beyond, covering travel and luxury accommodations for players’ families, perks that are rarely matched in other global leagues. According to Gavaskar, this ‘Indian hospitality’ is being viewed as a right rather than a privilege.
“The owners go out of their way to accommodate their players… which is often misunderstood as a right by some, who then try to take advantage of the situation,” Gavaskar remarked.
His primary grievance lies in the lack of transparency; many players wait until after the auction, once their massive paydays are secured to reveal ‘personal reasons’ or fitness concerns that prevent a full-season commitment. Gavaskar’s solution is simple but stern: “Franchises must start dropping these players.” He argues that if a player cannot commit to the full duration for non-medical reasons, they shouldn’t be part of the tactical blueprint at all.
Also READ: RCB legend Virat Kohli reacts to ‘chartered flight to London’ rumours ahead of IPL 2026
The timing of these delays is particularly damaging for 2026 title contenders. Reports suggest that Australian icons like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood may miss the opening weeks to manage workloads or recover from minor niggles. While player burnout is a valid concern, Gavaskar argues that this pick-and-choose mentality throws months of auction strategy into the bin.
“We are already hearing about some players who will not be available for a variety of reasons, none of which were informed before they were selected by the franchise. Unless franchise owners start to get tough and drop these players, they will find themselves hampered in their efforts to win the title. All the planning in forming the squad, which they believe can help them win, goes out of the window when players decide to come whenever they want,” he added.
When a marquee fast bowler or a top-order explosive hitter arrives three games late, the team’s chemistry is disrupted. In a league where the margin between the playoffs and the bottom of the table is often a single win, these delayed starts can be the difference between a trophy and a disappointment. Gavaskar insists that unless the IPL governing body or the franchises themselves implement stricter penalties or no-show clauses, the league’s planning phase will remain a gamble.
Despite the controversy, Gavaskar remains optimistic about the spectacle itself. He predicts that the 2026 season, culminating on May 31, will once again silence the critics with its sheer quality of cricket. However, his message to the millionaire players is clear: the IPL is a professional commitment, not a vacation to be taken at one’s convenience.
Also READ: Irfan Pathan highlights ‘concerning factor’ for KKR ahead of IPL 2026
Axar Patel has shed light on a unique ‘tradition’ followed by the Indian cricket team during major assignments, while also reiterating his stance against the Impact Player rule ahead of IPL 2026.The Delhi Capitals skipper spoke about how players often visit temples during bilateral tours and ICC events. During the 2026 T20 World Cup, Indian players were seen visiting several temples before matches, and even after lifting the title, captain Suryakumar Yadav, head coach Gautam Gambhir and International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah visited the Hanuman Temple to seek blessings with the trophy.
Speaking at a Delhi Capitals event on Monday, Axar explained that such visits are largely driven by convenience and security arrangements during tournaments. “Temple visits are not a bad thing. We go to temples where otherwise we wouldn’t be able to go. We have security with us during tournaments,” he said.Alongside this, Axar once again voiced his displeasure with the Impact Player rule, becoming the latest Indian cricketer to question its impact on the game. The rule, introduced in 2023, allows teams to substitute a player from a list of five at any stage of the match and is set to remain in place until at least 2027.Axar’s view aligns with other senior players such as Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, both of whom have previously raised concerns. Rohit had pointed out in 2024 that the rule hampers the development of all-rounders, while Hardik later added that it makes team selection difficult unless a player excels equally with both bat and ball.Explaining his perspective, Axar highlighted how the rule changes team strategies and reduces the need for multi-skilled players. “I don’t like this rule, honestly, because I am an all-rounder. Earlier, you would pick an allrounder for batting and bowling.“But because of this rule, the team management goes for a particular batsman or bowler, thinking ‘Why do we need an allrounder?’ Since I am an allrounder, I don’t like the rule. At the same time, rules are rules and we need to follow them. From a personal point of view though, I don’t like the rule,” he said during a pre-season press conference.Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on April 1. Axar had earlier also flagged the issue in 2024, noting that the rule had an impact on his batting position when he was serving as vice-captain.
US stocks rallied sharply on Monday after President Donald Trump said the United States had held talks with Iran and would postpone planned strikes on Iranian power plants, triggering a relief rebound across global markets and a steep fall in oil prices.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,021.70 points, or 2.24 per cent, to 46,599.17, while the S&P 500 gained 136.26 points, or 2.09 per cent, to 6,642.74, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 493.02 points, or 2.28 per cent, to 22,140.63.
The rebound came after Trump said he would postpone military action against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure, easing immediate fears of a deeper escalation in the Middle East war.Trump made the announcement just hours before a deadline that had raised concerns of further conflict. In a post on Truth Social, he said the US and Iran had held “very good and productive” conversations over the past two days on a “complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East”.Trump also said he was delaying attacks on Iranian power plants by five days to allow talks to continue.The announcement marked a notable shift from his weekend warning that he would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
The sharp rise in equities was closely tied to a sudden drop in crude prices, which had been a major source of market stress in recent weeks.Brent crude fell 10.5 per cent to $100.37 per barrel, down from nearly $120 last week. It briefly dropped as low as $96 immediately after Trump’s announcement before recovering part of the decline.Brent was last down 9.14 per cent at $101.89 per barrel, while US crude fell 8.58 per cent to $89.80 a barrel.Benchmark US crude initially fell toward $84 per barrel before trimming losses and rising back to $88.85.The easing in oil prices was a major positive for equities because investors had been worried that prolonged disruption in the Persian Gulf could drive a fresh inflation shock across the global economy.
The S&P 500 jumped 1.9 per cent and was on track for its best day since well before the war began, reflecting broad-based relief after severe losses in previous sessions.The rally was widespread, with AP saying nine out of every 10 stocks in the S&P 500 were in positive territory.Companies with large fuel costs led gains as lower oil prices improved the outlook for operating expenses.Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings surged 7.9 per cent, while United Airlines climbed 4.5 per cent and American Airlines rose 4.9 per cent, news agency AP reported.Smaller companies also outperformed, with the Russell 2000 jumping 3 per cent, which AP described as a market-leading move.
Despite the market relief, uncertainty remained high because Iranian media quickly challenged Trump’s version of events.Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing an Iranian official, said the Strait of Hormuz would not return to pre-war conditions and that energy markets would remain unsettled, while also stating that no negotiations with the US were under way.Iranian state television said Trump had backed down “following Iran’s firm warning”, while a state-owned newspaper said Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied that any negotiations had taken place.That contradiction limited the scale of optimism, even as investors welcomed the pause in immediate military escalation.
The US rally was part of a wider rebound in risk assets after Trump’s comments.MSCI’s global stock index rose 1.31 per cent to 994.34, while the pan-European STOXX 600 gained 1.87 per cent.European markets reversed earlier losses and held gains, with France’s CAC 40 up 1.7 per cent and Germany’s DAX rising 2.2 per cent.Asian markets, however, had already closed before Trump’s announcement and ended sharply lower. South Korea’s Kospi fell 6.5 per cent, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng each dropped 3.5 per cent.
Bond markets also reflected a reduction in immediate panic.The 10-year US Treasury yield fell to 4.34 per cent from 4.39 per cent late Friday, though it remained well above the 3.97 per cent level seen just before the war began.Two-year and 10-year Treasury yields were each 5 to 6 basis points lower, with the 10-year yield last at 4.344 per cent.The dollar also softened after initially rising earlier in the day. Reuters said the euro was last up 0.4 per cent at $1.1616.
Market strategists warned that Monday’s rally may prove fragile unless diplomatic progress becomes more concrete.“The market woke up to some potentially good news out of the Middle East on Monday. But follow-through on any relief rally will likely require tangible follow-through on the geopolitical front,” Chris Larkin, managing director of trading and investing at E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, told Reuters.Reuters also quoted Elias Haddad, global head of markets strategy at Brown Brothers Harriman, as saying, “It’s clearly jawboning in the face of the meltdown that we’ve seen. We’re seeing a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to this positive news.”He added, “There’s certainly room for a bit of an unwind in the fear trade. A more sustained rally in risk assets will depend on whether this is legit de-escalation or simply a pause before a next leg up in escalation.”
